Energy: ENEA and Exergon Ventures sign agreement on advanced nuclear power

ENEA and Exergon Ventures—a venture capital fund specializing in deep-tech for the energy transition—have signed a five-year collaboration agreement to leverage synergies between research and technological investments in the energy sectors, specifically in advanced nuclear technology, through the exchange of expertise and specialized knowledge and joint scientific and technological scouting activities.

Specifically, the agreement will focus on next-generation fission nuclear technologies: small modular reactors (SMRs) using light-water reactor (LWR) technology, which fall between Generation III and Generation III+; fourth-generation advanced modular reactors (AMRs), which feature innovations in cooling systems and fuel to ensure greater efficiency, safety and sustainability and to offer new applications, including cogeneration and hydrogen production.

In the future, the collaboration between ENEA and Exergon may be extended to other technology and energy sectors of interest, fostering further opportunities for innovation, technology transfer and industrial development.

“ENEA provides its expertise in identifying and evaluating emerging technologies with the greatest impact on the country’s energy and industrial systems, helping to direct investments toward innovative solutions capable of strengthening national competitiveness, accelerating the energy transition and supporting the development of strategic technology supply chains in the energy sector, particularly the nuclear sector” saidAlessandro Dodaro, Director of the ENEA Nuclear Department.

“The revival of nuclear energy in Europe requires close alignment between research, industry and investment. Through this collaboration with ENEA, Exergon Ventures aims to help bridge the gap between scientific innovation and industrial development, fostering the emergence of new technologies and new strategic supply chains. In a context of growing focus on energy security, industrial competitiveness and decarbonization, we believe that advanced nuclear power—from SMRs to fourth-generation AMRs—can play a fundamental role in Europe’s future energy mix. “As a venture capital fund specializing in cutting-edge energy technologies, our goal is to identify and support the most promising entrepreneurs and scientific teams, guiding them on the path from research to market” said Giuseppe Sangiovanni, Partner at Exergon Ventures.